Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan

7 reviews

btlitell's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I enjoyed this book but feel it could have been better in a few ways. As far as cyberpunk/sci-fi it's pretty interesting and the concept felt new enough rather than simply a fresh spin on something that previously existed. I really liked the execution of the transferable personality and a body that can change (in some cases) and thought it brought a nice approach to sci-fi's canon.

The biggest reason for this being a 4-star instead of 5 is the very graphically detailed sex scenes that not only seemed gratuitous but also too "technical" or "textbook" in their nature. Not really interested in that, but it's definitely better than if those scenes were filled with horrible and cliche euphemisms (or worse new attempts at euphemisms that are just ick lol). This is absolutely a me thing and not really anything against the writing or the story itself.

I am looking forward to eventually reading books 2 and 3 as well as watching the show.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Death

Minor: Colonisation, Trafficking, War, Self harm, Suicide, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

aimeecait16's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Violence, Sexual violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Sexual assault, and Suicide

lilifane's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

After watching the TV Show I wanted to read the books it was based on, because I thought the book would give me additional information and world building and character development and make the plot less confusing. Unfortunately, I waited a few years and so the book was still confusing at this point. I still loved the world building and the twisty plot, liked the characters and enjoyed the reading overall… when I ignored the protagonist’s cringy thoughts and sex scenes at least. Luckily they were mostly in the first half and the second half was more plot and action focused.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Drug use, Gore, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Medical content, Murder, Sexual content, and Torture

catsy2022's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, Alcoholism, Body horror, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Suicide and Police brutality

Minor: War, Abortion, and Child death

beejay5253's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Drug use, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

ajediprincess's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

In an unusual move for me, I actually watched the series on SyFi before I read this book (mostly because I didn't know it was a book to begin with), and while I loved the series, I felt that the book certainly added a new layer of understanding to the character of Kovacs for me. This book was so interesting, so captivating, and I had such a great time with it from start to finish.

This world is so dark and harsh, but Takeshi Kovacs is a good guy in a world of scum, yet he's not too good that he himself doesn't have flaws. Ortegas is also a fantastic supporting character and they make a great detective duo, being at first skeptical of one another and somewhat antagonistic, but eventually learning to trust each other and work together. It was a really intriguing tension and despite covering so many ugly, distasteful topics, this book manages to emphasize the depravity of its setting without rubbing the reader's face in it.

This being said, I actually think I prefer the changes they made to the story in the television series over the book. This review would be impossible to write without spoilers, so I apologize for spoiling things in advance, but I will keep them brief.

The difference between the hotel personified and colored as The Raven and manned by an AI of Edgar Allan Poe himself was so delightful in the show, and I was very disappointed to see that the hotel Kovacs stays at is not called The Raven, but rather The Hendrix and it doesn't even really have a characterized AI to befriend Kovacs. This was just not as fun in the book as it was in the show. Poe was one of the best supporting characters.

Another huge change the show made that is absent from the book is the relationship between Rei and Kovacs.

I thought it was such a cool dynamic for them to be siblings, extremely close and protective siblings, in the show. In the book they aren't related at all,

which loses an interesting and at times toxic and unnerving layer to their relationship as protagonist and antagonist. I personally feel the show did it better.

These small gripes aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this gritty sci-fi, cyberpunk novel set in the far future of our Earth and I hope that others will too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical trauma, Cursing, Child abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Classism, and Gore

Minor: Suicide, Stalking, Torture, Sexual violence, Murder, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Drug use, and Slavery

mar's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

terminal case of "she breasted boobily down the stairs" writing :| honestly if u ever think abt reading this book just watch the Netflix show instead i promise you won't miss out on anything and you'll have more fun too

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Misogyny, Police brutality, Violence, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Drug use, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Torture

Minor: Child abuse

violence against sex workers in particular is a major recurring theme in the book